Hydrogen from solar power: understanding how the noble metal-oxide interface can be optimised

Hydrogen from solar power
EPSRC CASE PhD studentship with SABIC
Geoff Thornton, University College London

The methods of making hydrogen to secure chemical production in the future from renewable sources are in their research and developments stages at SABIC. Among the promising ones are those involving reducible metal oxides whereby solar heat is used to reduce the material followed by exposure to water to generate hydrogen. This promising method needs high temperatures (typically over 1000 C) making the process very expensive due to the regeneration process. The addition of a noble metal to a reducible oxide such as cerium oxide is known to accelerate the reduction at the interface metal/metal oxide with the extent of reduction depending on the nature of the metal and the surface atomic structure of the oxide material. A particularly promising reducible oxide is CeZrO4. The aim of the project is to understand how the noble metal-oxide interface can be optimised. At UCL this will be studied as a single crystalline ultrathin using atomically resolved scanning tunnelling microscopy and spectroscopy, focussing initially on the interaction of Pt and the adsorption of water. Related STM measurements will also be possible at the SABIC research centre in KAUST on the Red Sea in Saudi Arabia during a student placement. The project will start in October 2017.

At this time we seek applications from highly talented EU (including UK) students with a high quality Masters degree in physics, chemistry or material science. For UK applicants a first or 2(i) degree are required. The studentship is for four years with a tax-free stipend of about GBP 17k (to be confirmed). The fees are paid. Applications should be sent to [Email Address Removed] by 31st March 2017.